The
Nikon F3, a fully electronic professional specification body (With a back-up mechanical
shutter speed of 1/60 sec), replaced the Nikon F2. It was
the longest serving camera model Nikon has ever produced. Its simple aperture priority
AE uses stepless shutter speeds from a low 8 sec to 1/2000 sec. Quartz timing is
used to maintain shutter speed accuracy when switched to manual mode. It was also
the first Nikon pioneered to use TTL-OTF flash exposure
control,
a method first invented by the Olympus OM2n but the
F3 has refined and turned it into a mainstream flash feature for 35mm photography.
Unlike the earlier F & F2's concept of metered prisms, the metering cell is now
integrated within the body to handle both ambient as well as TTL flash metering.
It came with a superb motor drive, MD-4 which provides
a top performing maximum firing rate of 6 frames per second (fps) with a Ni-Cd power
source at 1/125 sec and above. It was also the last remaining pro-spec model from
Nikon that still provided a mechanical back up speed. System accessories include:
6 types of viewfinders, (Standard
is the DE-2 eye-level finder), multiple data back options (includes
two versions of 250 exp. Bulk Film Backs) and 22 types of focusing
screens
to choose from to suit various photographic applications. It has a simple but very
accurate center-weighted (80/20) metering system and the
MD-4 will take over the power supply when mounted on the camera body. F-features
such as multiple exposures and mirror-lock-up were standard. The F3 was also the
first Nikon pro-oriented camera that provided integrated built-in automation. While
still employing horizontal travel, its ultra-reliable shutter has a lab test result
of 150,000 exposure cycles which is 50% more durable than its main contender, the
Canon New F1n with 100,000
exposure cycles.

Generally,
the two contenders for the pro market, the Canon New F1n and Pentax LX that launched
in later stages, both technically offer better options than the F3. But the
F3 succeeded by helping the users on the market, both pros and amateurs, to accept
the natural and inevitable trend towards full automation in camera design. Credit
must be given to Nikon for providing such an ultra-rugged and reliable workhorse
which accelerated the whole process of acceptance and paved the way for the AF age
in another development cycle. I think that this is how the F3 will be remembered
in the history of cameras as a whole...

The
Nikon finder DE-3 was introduced a year later. The High Eyepoint finder was designed
for eyeglass wearer or for photographers who may be required to work with an underwater
housing and/or shoot with while wearing a helmet or mask. It allows regular eye level
viewing with an eye relief distance of up to 25mm. This feature turned out to be
the most popular F3 version ever. Subsequently, in all later models of F3 variants,
the high-eye point finder was made as a standard option.

The
Titanium-spec F3 model was generally regarded as the most rugged F3 available. Titanium
was used to protect key components - viewfinder, top plate, base and even the camera
film back ! The 1st generation of the F3T was finished in a white-chrome champagne
finish. This model has remained the most elegant looking F3 model among all other
variations. It was replaced by a black paint version at a later stage. Serial numbers
for the champagne finish started from T 8200001. Incidentally, a special early production
edition
- 200 Limited production model was introduced during 1982. Just for comparison: see
a very rare view of a Nikon F2T in champagne
finish).

The
first Nikon body integrated with a TTL Autofocus module. As opposed to other manufacturer's
approaches to autofocus that began to take off during early 80's with the "AF
lens on an SLR body" concept, Nikon's first attempt with autofocus used their
flagship model, the F3 as the basic chassis. It debuted along with two dedicated,
damn sharp AF lenses: F3AF-Nikkor 80mm f/2.8
& the F3-AF 200mm f/3.5 IF-ED.
The F3AF has an oversized DX-1 prism which also serves as an electronic rangefinder
to assist manual focusing when used with any Ai Nikkor lens with a minimum aperture
of f/3.5. The focusing screen used on the camera was a fixed and non- interchangeable
type, but the F3AF shares many of the system accessories with the standard F3.

Nikon
F3/T (Black), 1985

The
basic specification of this Nikon F3/T Black is the same as with the earlier Nikon F3/T Champagne finish except this model
has a black finish to answer some professional user's requests for a matching black
version with the Nikkor lenses.
The serial number for the black Nikon F3/T body starts from T 8500001.

The
Nikon F3P (some interpreted the designation "P" as "Professional"
but it was actually "Press" - either way - it was correct, press photographers
are professional shooters too..). There were some omissions in the basic features
of the F3P, such as the self timer, multiple exposure etc. * Check the specification
papers
that came along with the camera. The camera has a specially produced Titanium-made
version of the High Eyepoint prism called DE-5 which houses a built-in hot
shoe on top of the pentaprism, but such a design was at the expense of the TTL-OTF
flash capability of the basic Nikon F3. The DE-5 has remained the only viewfinder
for the Nikon F3 that has an accessory shoe. (it was used as the standard finder
for the Nikon High Speed Motor Drive camera introduced much later in 1996 as well).
It was supplied with an MF-6B camera back, which
leaves the film strip leader out after rewind. The shutter speed dial is taller than
the standard F3's. A "B" focusing screen was used instead of the standard
type "K" while the shutter release button is not threaded in the middle
for use with a cable release. It also has extra water sealing gaskets around the
shutter release. It was supplied as a black body only. I have little knowledge of
the Nikon F3 Limited version shown above except for what has been addressed
at the related site that featured
that model.

Nikon
F3/T (Titan) Classic

" ... Hi Mr. Foo, First of all congratulations
and thank you for a great site. I have been enjoying it for years. I am also a collector
of mechanical cameras, particularly F2 and F3 variants, and I wanted to share with
you an F3 variant, the F3T Classic, which I came across and purchased in Japan.
When I came upon the camera I had a Japanese friend verify with Nikon directly, as
I had not heard of this particular model. They indeed confirmed that they had produced
a hundred of these camera for one of their oldest camera dealers, Ando Camera
of Japan, in celebration of the 50th year of their relationship. I enclose
photos of the set, but here are some details ....read MORE info & other great views of this model.

In
1996, in a very surprising move, Nikon introduced a 13.5 fps high speed motor drive
camera that came with a fixed, non reflex pellicle Mirror similar to the earlier
10.0 fps F2 High Speed Motor Camera.
The F3 High Speed camera was different in that it can operate exactly as a normal
F3 (except for its mirror lock up and metering functions). Widely seen as a move
to neutralize the Canon 10 fps pellicle
Mirror EOS1 RS's
impact to the Nikon F5 launched at the same time with the F3H.

Nikonos IVA
was the first underwater Nikon that offered auto exposure (the "A" behind
the IV signifies auto-exposure). Film speed range was extended from 25 to 1600 ISO.
The vertical traveling, metal focal plane shutter has an improved range from 1/30
sec to 1/1000 sec. (and Bulb) + a backup mechanical shutter speed at 1/90 sec (M
setting). Flash synchronization is via a cable connection for electronic flash synch
up to 1/90 sec with Nikonos electronic flash units. It was also the first Nikonos
that incorporated a built-in light sensor and offered aperture priority exposure
control. Discontinued in 1984.